Senior Director, Global Partnerships (MARI)

About MARI Group
MARI is a global events and experiences company powering world-defining live experiences. Our portfolio of premium live properties spans sports, art, and entertainment — including the Madrid and Miami Open tennis tournaments, Frieze (a leading voice in contemporary art), and Barrett-Jackson (the premium U.S. collector car auction company). MARI also includes TodayTix Group, the global e-commerce leader for cultural experiences, connecting millions of customers with the best in live entertainment. MARI is reshaping the live events landscape — building a growing portfolio of category-defining events and brands that set the standard for what's next, across sports, entertainment, art, and lifestyle.

At MARI, you'll work alongside people who are passionate, curious, and driven — people who believe that live experiences have the power to shape culture, and who care about the work, the mission, and each other. We welcome outstanding applicants of all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply.

About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Director for Sponsorship sales at MARI. This senior commercial role will focus on maximising sponsorship sales by creating new relationships and opportunities across the MARI Events Arts and Entertainment portfolio specifically Hampton Court Palace Festival, Blenheim Palace Music Festival, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, and Glide Ice Rink. Working closely with Senior Management and Event Directors, your work will directly impact and drive revenue for the UK portfolio of events. This is a permanent role and qualified candidates will be based out of our London offices. You'll be part of a team that values both connection and flexibility.

What Success Looks Like:

• Commercial leadership and delivery of sponsorship revenue across portfolio
• Ensuring annual sponsorship targets are reached/exceeded for the divisions in question.
• Delivery of new sponsors to the portfolio
• Management and retention of existing sponsors
• Identify and exhaust alternative revenue streams
• Build new brand relationships each year

What You'll Own:

• Drive sponsorship sales by creating new relationships and opportunities across the MARI Events portfolio including Hampton Court Palace Festival, Blenheim Palace Music Festival, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, and Glide Ice Rink.
• Consistently identify target brands and generate face-to-face/virtual meetings to establish new client relationships.
• Create and deliver sponsorship presentations using existing templates.
• Perform contractual negotiations with clients through to signature.
• Support and work closely with Senior Management and Event Directors to ensure commercial partnerships are in keeping with the event content.
• Maximise all potential revenue to achieve/exceed event targets.
• Work with sponsorship account managers to ensure successful delivery of contract and work towards renewal.
• Work collaboratively with the wider MARI sales team to help teach and support.
• Ensure that all pipeline and deals are reported and up to date on the CRM system.
• Maintain a good knowledge of competitor events and relevant sponsorships.
• Weekly/Monthly forecasting and reporting to senior divisional management within Strategic Partnerships.
• Management of internal stakeholders across marketing, events, operations, sales, and account management.

What You Bring:

• A proven track record delivering high value sponsorship deals and generating commercial revenue experience is required, ideally in an events environment working across multiple properties.
• A good knowledge and understanding of brands and how they buy sponsorship and the start to end sales process.
• A black book of current up to date brand relationships and knowledge of trends.
• Experience of face-to-face meetings, presentation creation, and proposal writing.
• Knowledge of lifestyle, sports, arts, and entertainment brand landscape.
• A strong proven leadership abilities both commercial and soft skills are required.
• An understanding of digital media and how it can be commercialised.
• Ability to network and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Team player with a positive and proactive outlook and ability to understand all elements of the event portfolio.
• Ability to handle pressure, remain professional and stay calm when dealing with difficult situations.
• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to manage up as well as down.
• Ability to plan and execute a yearly sales cycle for multiple Events.

Benefits
Here are some of the Benefits and Perks offered at MARI Group:

• Pension match and access to a bespoke pension scheme
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced gyms, wellness and financial wellbeing apps access via Wellhub
• Flexible Paid Time Off

MARI believes in the power of live experiences to unite people — and we know that can only be achieved when we reflect the full diversity of the world around us. As a global company that shapes culture across sports, art, and entertainment, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and to practicing anti-discrimination across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and beyond. We recognise that systemic inequality and discrimination remain challenges across the events and entertainment industry, and we are dedicated to driving meaningful progress — both within our own organisation and across the wider industry we are proud to be part of.